Water sport device



Aug- 15, 1 A. B. BEAKBANE 3,335,440

WATER SPORT DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l f 7 g' j X k V g 3; 519 12 22 INVEN'IOR.

m' w @Q ATTORNEYS Aug. 15, 1967 BEAKBANE 3,335,440

WATER SPORT DEVICE Filed Jan. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 47 43 3,335,440 WATER SPORT DEVICE Alfred B. Beakbane, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., assignor to Surf Disk, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Jan. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 518,964 7 Claims. (Cl. 9-310) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A water sport device adapted to be towed over the surface of water and characterized by a buoyant body member having an upper support surface on which is rotatably mounted a flat disk member which overlies the upper support surface to provide a platform surface coextensive in area therewith. Rotation means mount the disk member on the body member for rotation relative to the body member so that tricks and stunts may be performed.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the water sport device provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention in an operating environment and showing schematically a user of the device standing on the platform disk;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the water sport device of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged elevational view with parts broken away to show additional details of construction;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view showing additional details of construction;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the latching means for selectively locking the disk and body members;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the water sport device of FIGURES 1-5; and

FIGURE 7 is a bottom .plan view of the device of the invention.

As shown on the drawings:

The water sport device of the present invention comprises two relatively rotatable parts which may be selectively interlocked and which is adapted to be towed behind a powered water craft, thereby affording the user wide versatility in use.

More specifically, the device is shown in the drawings generally at 10 and comprises a bowl-shaped buoyant body member 11 having a lower convex water-engaging surface 12 and an upper support surface 13.

As shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, the body member 11 is an integral article which can be fabricated in any convenient manner, however, in the illustrative embodiment of the invention herein shown by way of example, the lower convex water-engaging surface is provided by a wall member having a generally vertically disposed upstanding circumferentially continuous rim 14 which is snugly received in a recess provided by a U-shaped flange at the outer peripheral edge of the upper wall 13. The U-shaped flange has a bight portion 16 as well as an outer leg 17 and an inner leg 18. The parts are interconnected in water-tight relation.

A flanged retainer ring includes a vertically disposed leg 19 which lies circumjacent the outer leg 17 of the U-shaped flange and a radially inwardly extending flange 20 which terminates at a large center opening 21 is disposed in spaced relation to the upper wall 13. A plurality of fasteners such as bolts or screws 22 are provided at circumferentially spaced intervals to place the flanged ring 19 in firm assembly with the body member 10.

Because of the shape of the body member, it will be noted that the entire interior designated at 23 forms a hollow air space, thereby providing an inherent buoyancy which makes the device 10 unsinkable and provides an additional safety factor. It will be understood, of course, that if desired, the hollow air space 23 could also be filled with suitable buoyant filler such as cork or expanded foam, or other suitable lightweight materials.

Referring now to the second principal part of the device, it will be noted there is provided a flat disk member shown generally at 26 which may be conveniently fabricated as a laminated article made of wood, plastic or other material and is herein illustrated as comprising a series of laminations 27 encased within a sheathing of Water-proof material .28. The disk is essentially circular in configuration and has an outer diameter which is slightly less than the diameter of the flange 18, thereby to provide an outer edge 29 which is closely spaced to the flange 18 but sufliciently spaced to admit free relative rotation between the parts.

The disk 26 has an upper platform surface 30 adapted to support the user of the device and in order to enhance the surface 30 a pattern of crossed strips 31 may be provided on the surface 30, as shown in FIGURE 6, which strips 31 are made of non-skid or friction material.

The disk 2-6 has a lower surface 32 which is spaced above the wall 13 of the body member 11 and the disk is substantially co-extensive in area with the wall 13 of the body member 11.

In order to make the arts relatively rotatable with respect to one another, there is interposed between the wall 13 and the bottom surface 32 suitable mounting means including antifriction shiftable elements. More specifically, in the form of the invention illustrated, the disk 26 has a centrally disposed projection 33 which forms a rotating pivot and establishes an axis of rotation for the device. The wall 13 of the body member has a corresponding recess 34 in which the projection 33 is rotatably received. It is also contemplated that there be provided between the abutting surfaces one or more circularly disposed guide means. In the form of the invention illustrated, the wall 13 of the body member 11 has embossed or otherwise formed guide tracks provided in the form of an inner track 34 and an outer track 36 arranged in concentrically disposed spaced relation relative to the center axis established by the recess 34 and the projection 33. The tracks 34 and 36 contain a plurality of antifriction shiftable ball elements which may con veniently take the form of glass marbles 37 of a diameter to be received in the guide tracks 34 and 36, but projecting above the surface of the wall 13 for engagement with the lower surface 32 of the disk 26. If desired, the tracks 34 and 36 may be provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced cusps in which each respective marble is received and positioned in circumferentially spaced alignment, thereby to evenly distribute the support engagement between the confronting surfaces 13 and 32 while efliciently accommodating the relative rotation desired.

As shown in the drawings, the outer peripheral edge of the disk 26 underlies the radially inwardly extending flange 21 of the retainer ring 19. In order to selectively lock the two relatively rotatable parts in stationary relation, pin and detent means are provided which, in this form of the invention, take the form of registering openings provided between the disk 26 and the flange 20 and a latch pin which cooperates therewith. More specifically, it will be noted that the disk 26 has a plurality of openings 38, for example, two openings may be provided at opposite sides of the device and each opening has received therein a bushing 39.

The flange 20 is provided with a corresponding plurality of openings and each opening is indicated at 40. A latch pin 41 has an eye 42 which forms a means by which the operator may conveniently remove the pin 41 from the registering openings provided by the bushing 39 and the opening 40. In order to keep the latch pin 41 in firm assembly with the body member, a retaining cord 43 is fastened in firm asembly to the eye 42 as at 44 and is fastened as at 46 to a clasp 47 engaged by a corresponding fastener 22.

It is contemplated by the present invention that the water sport device be towed through the water by a powered water craft such as a motorboat or the like. Accordingly, in order to give the device directionalized planning stability, the convex wall 12 of the body member has projecting outwardly therefrom a rudder 50 including a horizontal wall 51 and a vertical wall 52. The side walls of the rudder include curved flaring portions 53 which blend into the wall 13 of the body member.

At the opposite side of the device 10, a pair of coupling connectors are provided by means of which the device may be connected to a powered water craft through an appropriate hitch with a towline. Thus, there is shown in the drawings a recessed portion 56 and a towline eye 57 is located in each recess 56 and connected to the wall 13 by means of a bracket 58. As shown in FIGURE 7, there are preferably two towline eyes 57 located on opposite sides of a diametr-al centerline on which is located the rudder St).

The hitch portions 60, 60 of a towline 61 are shown connected to the towline eyes 57.

In use, the water sport device 10 may be towed by a water power craft via the towline 61 and the usual guideline 62 may also be provided for the convenience of the user. When the relatively rotatable parts are stationarily locked together by means of the locking pins 41, the user stands on the supporting platform surface 3% provided by the disk 26. Because of the stability and flotation characteristics of the device, tow speeds as low as five miles per hour can be effectively utilized, thereby providing sporting pleasures comparable to water skiing for even the most inexperienced beginner with the use of low horsepower towing equipment.

On the other hand, if the user wishes to avail himself of the versatility of the device, he can conveniently remove the lock pins 41, thereby rendering the parts relatively rotatable. With the parts relatively rotatable, tricks and stunts may be performed within the full potential of skill capable of being developed by the user.

Although various minor modifications might be sug gested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A water sport device comprising a bowl-shaped buoyant body member having a lower convex water-engaging surface and an upper support surface,

a flat disk member completely overlying said upper support surface and forming an upper platform surface co-extensive in area with said upper support surface for supporting a user,

and means including rotation means mounting said disk member on said body member for rotation relative to said body member.

2. A water sport device as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said lower convex surface of said body member having a rudder depending therefrom on one side of the body member to give the device directionalized planing stability, and

a pair of coupling connectors on said body member on the opposite side of said body member adapting the device for towing behind a powered water craft.

3. A water sport device comprising a bowl-shaped buoyant body member having a lower convex water-engaging surface and an upper support surface, a flat disk member overlying said upper support surface and forming an upper platform surface for supporting a user, and means including rotation means mounting said disk member on said body member for rotation relative to said body member,

said support surface of said body member and said disk member having formed therebetween one or more circularly disposed guide means and said rotation means including antifriction shiftable ball elements received in said guide means and engaging the adjoining portion of a corresponding one of said members to enhance the relative rotatability therebetween. 4. A water sport device comprising a bowl-shaped buoyant body member having a lower convex water-engaging surface and an upper support surface, a fiat disk member overlying said upper support surface and forming an upper platform surface for supporting a user, and means including rotation means mounting said disk member on said body member for rotation relative to said body member,

said body member having a flanged retainer ring connected at the upper edge thereof including a radially inwardly extending flange spaced longitudinally from said upper support surface and overlying the outer peripheral edge of said disk member. 5. A water sport device comprising a bowl-shaped buoyant body member having a lower convex water-engaging surface and an upper support surface, a fiat disk member overlying said upper support surface and forming an upper platform surface for supporting a user, and means including rotation means mounting said disk member on said body member for rotation relative to said body member, latch means between said disk and said body member to selectively lock therelatively rotatable disk and body members against relative rotation. 6. A water sport device comprising a bowl-shaped buoyant body member having a lower convex water-engaging surface and an upper support surface, a flat disk member overlying said upper support surface and forming an upper platform surface for supporting a user, and means including rotation means mounting said disk member on said body member for rotation relative to said body member,

said body member having a flanged retainer ring connected at the upper edge thereof including a radially inwardly extending flange spaced longitudinally from said upper support surface and overlying the outer peripheral edge of said disk member, said radially inwardly extending flange and said outer peripheral edge of said disk member each having one or more detent openings formed therein for selective registration with one another, and a latch pin received in a matched pair of said detent openings to selectively lock the disk and body members against relative rotation. 7. A water sport device comprising a bowl-shaped buoyant body member having a lower convex water-engaging surface and an upper support surface,

a fiat disk member overlying said upper support surface and forming an upper platform surface for supporting a user, and means including rotation means mounting said disk member on said body member for rotation relative to said body member,

said body member having a flanged retainer ring connected at the upper edge thereof including a radially inwardly extending flange spaced longitudinally from said upper support surface and overlying the outer peripheral edge of said disk member,

said disk member having strips of friction material disposed over said platform surface in spaced relation to one another to assist the user in maneuvering the device.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,045,264 7/1962 Smith 9-310 3,110,047 11/1963 Bringman 9310 10 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

P. E. SAUBERER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A WATER SPORT DEVICE COMPRISING A BOWL-SHAPED BUOYANT BODY MEMBER HAVING A LOWER CONVEX WATER-ENGAGING SURFACE AND AN UPPER SUPPORT SURFACE, A FLAT DISK MEMBER COMPLETELY OVERLYING SAID UPPER SUPPORT SURFACE AND FORMING AN UPPER PLATFORM SURFACE CO-EXTENSIVE IN AREA WITH SAID SUPPORT SURFACE FOR SUPPORTING A USER, AND MEANS INCLUDING ROTATION MEANS MOUNTING SAID DISK MEMBER ON SAID BODY MEMBER FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO SAID BODY MEMBER. 